Subject: [mg119511] Re: How show axes labels with AxesOrigin->{0,0,0} in 3D?

From: Helen Read <readhpr at gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 06:47:51 -0400 (EDT)

References: <isi9s0$lvi$1@smc.vnet.net>

On 6/6/2011 6:24 AM, Murray Eisenberg wrote:
> Since Mathematica 7, 3D graphics has allowed the AxesOrigin option so
> that, for example, the axes can go through the origin {0,0,0}, just like
> the way that mathematicians (or at least college calculus teachers) do
> it and teach their students to do it.
>
> That works, but...
>
> If you include an AxesLabel option, the labels do not appear, e.g., from:
>
> Plot3D[x^2 - y^2, {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2},
> AxesOrigin -> {0, 0, 0},
> AxesLabel -> {x, y, z},
> BoxRatios -> {1, 1, 1}, Boxed -> False]
>
> Is there some way to make the axes labels appear (other than to add them
> manually using the Text function, say in an Epilog)?
The labels are there, it's just difficult to see them, and they are
strangely (poorly, really) placed. Try this.
plot1=Plot3D[x^2 - y^2, {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2}, AxesOrigin -> {0, 0, 0},
AxesLabel -> {x, y, z}, BoxRatios -> {1, 1, 1}, Boxed -> False,
AxesStyle -> Directive[Bold, 16]]
The labels certainly are not where I would put them. Compare:
plot2=Plot3D[x^2 - y^2, {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2}, AxesLabel -> {x, y, z},
BoxRatios -> {1, 1, 1}, Boxed -> False,
AxesStyle -> Directive[Bold, 16]]
And if you change the ViewPoint to more or less approximate the way we
draw it on the board in calculus class, the placement of the labels is
even worse.
Compare:
Show[plot2,ViewPoint -> {2.362691025323322`, 1.7097627408932812`,
1.7159261314840222`}]
Show[plot1,ViewPoint -> {2.362691025323322`, 1.7097627408932812`,
1.7159261314840222`}]
In the latter, now the x label is in a very misleading place, and the y
and z labels are right on top of each other to the point of illegibility.
--
Helen Read
University of Vermont